The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-25

has exclusive rights for the construction and
maintenance of all telegraph lines, even over
private property.
II presume your system would do away with
our special wires for stock broKers!'
IAN individual may control line from one
of his houses another; a firm may have a line
of its own, built and constructed at its own ex-
pense. from one of its houses, TO another; but
one broker can not have a line of his own to
another broker unless he leases it from the gov
ernment, and then II Is under the governments
control The rate for leased lines is FL 1851
per mile per annum. We provide these special
wires wherever needed, and the figure includes
instruments. clerks, operators. etc. The &C
counts for the telegraph service are kept in
with those for postage, ETC., and wherever prac-
ticable the postmaster is the telegraph operator.
OF course in the larger Places where one or
two clerks are required, the postmaster, the
clerical force and the operator are distinctive Of
icers of the Office The hours for the telegraph
Offices are the same as those of the postofhces.
Where messages are to beesent after Official
hours arrangements must be made with the
postmaster. We do not have telegraph offices at
all the postoffices.
ION March 81 of last year the number of
postoffces in the United Kingdom was 6,805.
OF these, 4, 740 were telegraph offices. and in ad-
dition there were ,525 railway stations open for
telegraph business. When the patrons OF q
postofice IN a community believe they can sup
port teleera oh Office, they formulate petition
and guarantee that the receipts from the tele-
graph shall be sufficient to liquidate the ex-
penses. Then telegraph Office ls opened. We
pay our postmasters and operators. where they
are the same in the smaller places by per-
centage of the income of the Offices The sal
aries are graded the same those of the post
masters of the fourth class in America: in fact,
our whole system of salaries is about the same
as In America, except more LIBERAL"
Have you seen the various bills which have
been before the American Congress looking
toward the establishment of postal telegraphy
in the United States?"
Yes" replied Mr.. Lambe, smiling, ST have
seen all of them. j think, and have received
many communications from your congressman
In regard to our system and what should be done
in America. and requesting information. The
bills now under consideration very crude
especially they lame in the matter of salaries
for the officers No country can afford to pay
Its representatives mean wages; and particularly
does this apply in the Inauguration of an ex-
pertinent or any new service. AS district super
inteDdents, operators. ETC.. you want men with
ripe experience and good judgment. and these
can not be obtained without good salaries"
DO you receive many complaints about the
telegraph service from the people of the coun-
try?"
a postoffice department receives from the people
on account of the mail service. 1t is the inten-
ton OF the government to give the very best
service for the least possible money and to cater
TO the masses. If are negligent there comes
a howl from the people. which goes to the House
of Commons. and then we are skinned or roasted,
as you would put it. Our system of extending
lines and increasing the capacity of Offices is
very much like expedting the service mail
routes in America. We are constantly doing it, and
the officer having supervision of the lines has
authority increase the capacity of Offices, ex-
tend lines and provide special accommodations
for special occasions just like the superintendent
or manager where there are only private
porations"
In another letter I will repeat an interesting
conversation with Mr.. Pearce, the general
known as the practical man of the service.
=. s. HEATH.